HYDERABAD: Maoists have disputed the Andhra Pradesh police claim that top naxal leader Sande Rajamouli was shot dead in an encounter at Dharmavaram town of Anantapur district.

A statement from Gangadhara, Maoist spokesman for Karnataka, said Rajamouli was in fact arrested near a bus stand in Kollam in Kerala on Friday at 2 p.m. when he was talking to a party leader over phone and killed later.

Rajamouli left Bangalore at 8 p.m. on Wednesday night, the statement said.

Mr. Gangadhara said Rajamouli, a central committee member, was appointed Karnataka secretary in November 2005 following a split in the ranks. This happened after the fifth State conference in 2005-2006.

Demanding action against the police officers responsible for the killing, Mr. Gangadhara said the murder was a great loss to the Indian revolution and, Karnataka in particular.